~*~*~ All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them. ~*~*~ Walt Disney ~*~*~ ** Keep up with me on my blog! ** onegoofymotherrunner.blogspot.com Hi, I'm Christina, age 35. I've been married for eight years and am Mommy to the most incredible seven-year-old boy in the world :) We live in Wisconsin with our one-year-old feline princess, Joy. I work in healthcare-related IT, and while my job can be demanding and stressful, I love my work and appreciate that my employer is improving patient care every day! Shortly after my son turned two, I realized I had been carrying the "baby weight" around for way too long and joined Weight Watchers to turn my lifestyle around. The weight loss has been a struggle, kind of an ongoing battle, but day by day, I have learned a lot about living a healthy lifestyle and taking care of myself. It's a lifelong learning process, and I just take it one step at a time. My success is not always measured by the number I see on the scale, but by the everyday victories that show me that YES, indeed, I have changed my life for the better. I have come a long way from that day I walked timidly into that first Weight Watchers meeting four years ago, but I'd be kidding myself if I said that my work was done. In Summer 2009, I got bitten by the running bug and completed the Couch to 5K program. Then I worked on building up my endurance, using Jeff Galloway's run-walk-run training method. In 2010, I completed five half marathons and earned membership in the Half Fanatics. (I'm Fanatic #610!) In 2011, I completed six more half marathons, as well as my first full marathon. And in 2012, I took it a step further and completed the Walt Disney World Goofy's Race and a Half Challenge! A half and a full marathon in one weekend...runner's paradise or just plain crazy? I say...just plain FUN! And this year, I also qualified for Marathon Maniacs to take the craziness a step further. In 2013, I also picked up karate training. I was an avid taekwondo student in high school, but quit training one level shy of black belt, as I was leaving for college. I've regretted not finishing what I started for many years...one of my FEW life regrets. So, when signing my son up for a karate after school program, I took it a step further and registered myself for lessons! I'm hoping that, with time and patience, I'll get that black belt I missed out on half my life ago. Long term, I hope to maintain a sensible, healthy lifestyle, but most of all, be HAPPY and LOVE my life. No matter what I choose to do, whether it's running, karate, or something completely different that I haven't thought of yet, I want my journey to be an adventure, full of rewards! ~*~*~ Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious. And however difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at. It matters that you just don't give up. ~*~*~ Stephen Hawking ~*~*~ ~*~*~*~ Running Stuff ~*~*~*~ *** Planned Races *** 05.17.14 - Geist Half Marathon 05.24.14 - Madison Half Marathon 06.14.14 - Summerfest Rock 'n' Sole Run 08.17.14 - Madison Mini Marathon 11.16.14 - Rock 'n' Roll Vegas Half Marathon 11.30.14 - Space Coast Half Marathon *** My 2014 Races *** 04.05.14 - Lincoln Presidential Half Marathon 04.19.14 - Kentucky Derby Mini Marathon *** My 2013 Races *** 01.12.13 - Walt Disney World Half Marathon 01.13.13 - Walt Disney World Marathon 05.04.13 - Flying Pig 10K 05.04.13 - Flying Pig 5K 05.05.13 - Flying Pig Marathon 05.18.13 - Fargo Marathon 05.25.13 - Madison Marathon 10K 06.15.13 - Summerfest Rock 'n' Sole Run 08.31.13 - Disneyland 10K 09.01.13 - Disneyland Half Marathon 09.22.13 - Quad Cities Half Marathon 09.28.13 - Milwaukee Brewers Mini Marathon 10.19.13 - Monster Run Quarter Marathon 10.26.13 - Skeleton Skamper Half Marathon 10.27.13 - Haunted Hustle Half Marathon 12.01.13 - Space Coast Half Marathon *** My 2012 Races *** 01.06.12 - Walt Disney World Family Fun 5K 01.07.12 - Walt Disney World Half Marathon 01.08.12 - Walt Disney World Marathon 02.26.12 - Disney Princess Half Marathon 03.17.12 - Madison Shamrock Shuffle 10K 05.05.12 - Wisconsin Half Marathon 05.19.12 - Racine Color Run 5K 05.26.12 - Madison Marathon Weekend 10K 06.16.12 - Tri 4 Schools Family Fun Run 5K 06.24.12 - Oregon Summerfest Classic 5K 08.18.12 - Madison Mini Marathon 09.23.12 - Fox Cities Half Marathon 09.29.12 - Twilight Zone Tower of Terror Ten Miler 11.22.12 - Berbee Derby 5K *** My 2011 Races *** 04.30.11 - Country Music Half Marathon 05.29.11 - Madison Half Marathon 08.20.11 - Madison Mini Marathon 09.18.11 - Fox Cities Half Marathon 10.01.11 - Disney's Halloween 5K 10.01.11 - Disney's Wine & Dine Half Marathon 10.29.11 - Haunted Hustle Half Marathon 11.27.11 - Space Coast Marathon *** My 2010 Races *** 03.06.10 - Disney Royal Family 5K 03.07.10 - Disney Princess Half Marathon 03.14.10 - Shamrock Shuffle 10K 04.17.10 - Spring Sprint for the Arb 5K 04.24.10 - Crazylegs Classic 8K 05.30.10 - Madison Half Marathon 06.05.10 - Race for the Cure 5K 08.21.10 - Madison Mini Marathon 10.02.10 - Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon 10.30.10 - Haunted Hustle Half Marathon 11.25.10 - Berbee Derby 10K *** My 2009 Races *** 09.20.09 - Henry Vilas Zoo Run Run 5K 10.24.09 - Gilda's Run Two-Mile Fun Run 11.26.09 - Berbee Derby 5K 12.12.09 - Jingle Bell Run 5K Half Fanatic #610 * Joined 10.30.10 Marathon Maniac #7173 * Joined 5.20.13 ~*~*~*~ Karate Milestones ~*~*~*~ 07.16.13 - First class 09.19.13 - Gold belt awarded 12.19.13 - Orange belt awarded 03.20.14 - Purple belt awarded 04.12.14 - First tournament! Won 2nd place in forms!

My goals...stay healthy, fit, and happy. It's not so much about the number on the scale, but feeling healthy, strong, and full of energy and joy. My favorite exercise...running, of course! I have trained for many half marathons and marathons using Jeff Galloway's run/walk method, and plan to keep right on going. I balance my running out with karate, a bit of Zumba, and any other physical activity that catches my fancy :)

I try to make healthy decisions every day...about what I eat, moving my body, thinking positive thoughts, and taking care of myself and the people I love. My relationship with food...well, it's complicated, but I am doing my best and taking it one day at a time.

I grew up in Florida and even went to college and graduate school at the University of South Florida (GO BULLS!) I hoped to stay put after graduation, but my first job (in IT) ended up being in Madison, WI. So now we're up here, 1400 miles away from my hometown, in the frozen North. Brrrrrrrrrrrr! Of course I'm always going back to FL to visit my family and my favorite place in the world, DISNEY WORLD!

I love cooking, crafts, walking, running, shopping, blogging/journaling, listening to music, playing Wii, traveling, and watching funny movies. I am obsessed with just about anything Disney-related.

Add a Link Christina * * * * * * All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them ~ Walt Disney
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